An Appreciation of Jim Titcombe’s Life

by Maurice King

 

There are so many here today who had a special relationship with James Robert Titcombe and that is the last time I shall call him that.  Every one of you will be thinking that there is so much that you would like to say.  I feel very proud that I have been selected to give these few words of appreciation but you should all know that the hard work – the research for this has been carried out by Tony Brazier.

 

We are both very conscious that if Tony has made any errors of fact, and I don’t make a very good job reading it.  We shall both hear a voice in our ears “Bleeding boys”

 

And if you were shocked at hearing something like that this morning– Kate and the family are unanimous that this should not be a sad and solemn eulogy but a time of appreciation of a big man whose gifts included a great sense of humour.  And all of us who knew Jim well will agree.

 

Jim – I nearly said – would have appreciated. But I believe that Jim is appreciating this.

 

But I must be careful – in how I say some things or I shall hear that voice in my ear again – “I’ll do the funnies laddie!”

 

In the short time available how can we sum up the life of this rather special man?

 

Perhaps by a quotation from a Saint Ailred a few hundred years ago–

 

“No medicine is more valuable, none more efficacious, none better suited to the cure of all our temporal ills, than a friend, to whom we may turn for consolation in time of trouble, and with whom we may share our happiness in time of joy.”

 

As to his life we start with a conundrum.  Jim was born on 10 March 1928 in Shepherds Bush, London But insisted that he was a Yorkshireman!  One of his frequent sayings was “I’m a Yorkshire Man”.  The reason being that his family were from Yorkshire and his two sisters were born there.  Jim could see no reason why a genuine Yorkshireman could not be born in London.

 

He started his schooldays in Sidcup but was a war evacuee and finished up in Llandudno.  And even at that early age Jim showed his propensity for getting involved  and joining local organisations.  Being in Wales he naturally joined the local choir.  Now, I don’t know if he had any influence on this – but that choir was recorded and broadcast by the BBC.  Which perhaps explains why Jim could be so humorously scathing on those of us who cannot sing.

 

His first job was with the Post Office in Llandudno sorting office.  In due course he was moved to Post Office Counters subsequently moving to Waterloo station and then to Westminster Bridge where he met his first wife.

 

 

 

National service found Jim in the Royal Navy where he was trained as a telegraphist.

so that when demobbed, it was natural that he should give Cable & Wireless the benefit of his experience.  He obviously impressed them so much they sent him to Bermuda.  And I would like here and now to state that there is absolutely no truth in the rumour that Jim was responsible for the strange happenings in the Bermuda Triangle.

………………….  well, it has never been proved that he was.

 

But it is perhaps significant that Cable and Wireless brought him back from Bermuda

and seconded him to - what we shall always know as - the Central Office of Misinformation.  Jim was employed as an Overseas Telegraph Officer reaching Grade 1 in his profession.  Whilst with the COI Jim earned a reputation as an organiser of considerable merit.  Can it be just a coincidence that very shortly after Jim left them  the organisation folded?

 

After retiring from the COI Jim turned to printing and formed his own very successful business

 

In due time he retired from that.  Jim had a great love of gardening and had always wanted a large vegetable garden.  It was to fulfil that ambition that he moved to Norfolk with Katie  whom he had married in 1996.  Sadly due to the deterioration in his  health Jim was only to enjoy that gardening for too few years.

 

Kate, I don’t know how often Jim told you how much he loved you.  But I can assure you that his friends were left in no doubt of that, and of how much he had appreciated the great support you had given him through some very difficult times.

 

But Kate, we also heard – quote “Kate thinks I‘m a miserable geriatric old bastard!”  Of course this sentiment always produced the response   “And Kate is absolutely right!”.

 

From Jim’s previous marriage he had four children, Nine grandchildren and we’ve been unable to count the great-grandchildren.

 

Tony Brazier and I would like to thank one of those children, his youngest daughter Stella for the help given to us with the preparation of this appreciation.  But especially for the help and assistance to Kate during the past weeks.

 

Incidentally, when younger, Stella was convinced by Jim that Martians had landed in the back field in South Lopham and not only that, but also that she needed a passport to visit the Isle of Wight!

 

I have known Jim well for over ten years.  During all that time I never knew that he was a man who had strong political views.  (The freemasons will not be surprised to hear that I didn’t know).  He was a member of the Liberal party, later the Liberal Democrats.  Was selected as Parliamentary candidate for Eastleigh, but later withdrew for personal reasons.

One can have great fun imagining what Jim might have done had he been elected as an MP and what he might have said to some other MP’s.  “Bleeding boys” would have been nowhere near it!

 

He was also active in Fleet where he was chairman of the party.

 

I have mentioned Jim’s love of gardening.  When his family were younger he was especially fond of his Dahlias.  But it must be recorded that his cheery personality could take a knock when he found his children playing Hide & Seek amongst them.

 

Jim had a great love of classical music, particularly Beethoven.  He possibly inherited this from his father who played both the piano and organ.

 

But as to his other interests and hobbies. Jim joined the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes.  But his real love was freemasonry.  And you can see very clear evidence of that here (Regalia on coffin)

 

Jim was initiated in 1977 in, and was a Past Master of, the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple, London.  He was a member of two lodges meeting in Aldershot -

a Past Master of Waller Rodwell Wright lodge and also a very active Director of Ceremonies in Zetland lodge.  He joined Montgomerie Lodge here in Diss in 1995 and was Master in 2001.  He was honoured with London Grand Rank and was Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

 

I have a list of the other masonic orders of which Jim was not only a very active member but naturally gained high honours.  Jim was in fact a member of nineteen

different lodges.  I will not read them out now but please ask me later if you are interested.  It is typical of Jim that on coming to live here he not only joined and was active in the East Anglian lodges, but he still retained membership and was active in his London lodges as well.

 

In whatever office he was in he always gave it more than the proper care and attention, and gave help and encouragement to all with whom he was in contact.

 

How much that was appreciated is shown by the number of masonic friends from London and Hampshire who are here today.

 

Not surprisingly, Jim was known as “Titters”  And all the freemasons present will well know that calling him that at a masonic meeting produced the inevitable response “Worshipful Brother Titters to you!”

 

Jim always exercised most generously one of the prime requirements of a mason - Charity.  He was always among the first to donate to any good cause.

 

But he was also generous to his friends regularly taking a car full of guests to the meetings of Zetland and other lodges.

 

Jim and I frequently had friendly arguments with both of us striving to have the last word. Today, I think it is right that Jim should have the last word.

I have already mentioned some of his sayings -

 

“Bleeding boys”

“I’ll do the funnies laddie!”

“I’m a Yorkshire Man”

“Kate thinks I‘m a miserable geriatric old bastard!”

 

And there were some more -

 

“Hello old boy, how the devil are you?”

 

When asked how he was, the reply was either “Could be 100% better” or “There’s others worse off than me”

 

Another one was (Talking to himself ) “Get up you old fool” sometimes “Get up you old bugger”.

 

and another at an appropriate moment “That’s us, poor and distressed”.

 

As far as his friends and family were concerned we could never be either poor or distressed when Titters was around.

 

And that says it all.